Urgent Poll - would you still book the Dining Plan if gratuity is not included?

[beattyfamily]

I work there. I am a server. This is on the table. Can't say much more right now.

Thank you very much for clearing it up a bit for us.

 

[ElizabethB]

"Published reports" are likely not the best source of information on how the contract negotiations are really going.

 

[lillygator]

wow - OP, why don't you come clean about who you are? Are you a server there?

 

[BlondeAlligator]

I think that it would actually improve the service for dining plan guests if tips were left to the discretion of the guests. I have had some not-so-great service from servers who knew I was on the plan...I don't know if they figure that the tip is already guaranteed, so why bother working for it, or what? I think that tips should be based on the level of service offered...a bad server might get only 15% from me, a good server will get 20%, a super-great server might get even more...carrying cash would stink, but if you could just charge it back to your room, same as alcohol or other things not incuded on the plan that would be OK.

 

[Praying Colonel]

So if this change happens, will they reduce the price of the DDP by 18%?[/sarcasm]

 

[Disney 4 Me]

I voted yes. Our family makes out on the DDP. We eat lots of sit down meals, many with the characters. So the DDP is a bargain. We do add an additional tip if our server was really good. Only once did we have sub-par service. That was at Coral Reef. She wouldn't have gotten as big a tip if not for the DDP.

On another note, we ate at Boma last month. In our bill was a note that said gratuity wasn't included. We questioned the waitress who said the tip was included. Why would they put a note saying it wasn't? There was a problem with our bill. When she brought it back to us again, the note was still there. I wonder how many people don't realize tip is included and so they tip again.

 

[Lewisc]

It was reported the tip went from 15% to 18% due to an issue with the existing union contract.

I'd be surprised if Disney and the union weren't negotiating regarding the tip. I wouldn't be shocked if the compromise is to pay the servers a flat dollar amount and not reward servers who encourage guests to order more expensive items. It's also possible the automatic tip on the out of pocket check is being negotiated. I think an automatic 18% tip at a buffet restaurant is on the high side.

I don't think I'd purchase the dining plan if the price went up much, and dropping the tip would increase my cost by $5-$10. I think the servers would get screwed if the tip became optional.

 

[jmpellet]

This of course is a "future yell" right? They can't just go ahead and change policies for those of us that have already booked?!?

If they were to reduce the price and/or give us an option to select a percentage up to 18% or 20% then I would be for it. I think many of the servers are not responsive to DDP customers because they know they'll get 18%. I witnessed this first-hand last year -- only a couple of times -- but it was there.

 

[twoeeyy]

we always throw down an extra few dollars

My husband tips at least 20% no matter what.

 

[IlovemythreeC's]

We have been fortunate enough to always receive great service with the Dining plan. Honestly, we are always having so much fun that someone would have to be REALLY rude to us for us to even notice. However, we would probably seriously reconsider the dining plan if the gratutity were not included anymore.

A large part of our positive Disney experience is the ease of the Dining plan. It is so much fun to forget about your wallet and prepay these meals. It does not matter how much money we have or do not have at the particular time, it pains my husband to pay $150.00 for a meal In the times that we paid oop before the Dining plan, he would always say that it really was not that good. (Perception is an important part of the dining experience) Therefore, if they took away the gratuity we would probably not participate in the dining plan and it would lead us to going off the property some for meals, which would take profit away from Disney.

 

[kaysmommie]

I will take the DDP off my ressie if they don't include tax and tip. It won't be worth it for us. Too much food and it would be much less expensive just paying OOP for all our meals.

 

[TreslovesWDW]

I would not , I like just handing them my card and getting out fast by pre-paying for the DP. If the cost were less because you need to tip maybe I would think about getting it. If I am going to have to carry around money then maybe I would just skip DP and pay each time.
I also think the tip included is the biggest perk and for me some of those waiters or waitresses would never of gotten such a large tip. We are a group of 8 and some of them did not deserve the large tip because they were not checking to see if we needed anything like refills. Like at CRT she got a $40 tip and she was mean and gave us the wrong food took away my food when I went to the bathroom. If it was not included I may have left her nothing.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I wouldn't be shocked if the compromise is to pay the servers a flat dollar amount and not reward servers who encourage guests to order more expensive items.

I agree...some of the servers can be very agressive about encouraging you to order more expensive items when using the DDP. At a few of our meals I felt pressured into ordering appetizers, etc. even if I didn't want them.

I hope there's a compromise of some kind because I wouldn't want the servers to get the shaft, but on the otherhand, I don't want the price of DDP to go up either.

 

[LandBoatRide]

This of course is a "future yell" right? They can't just go ahead and change policies for those of us that have already booked?!?

If they were to reduce the price and/or give us an option to select a percentage up to 18% or 20% then I would be for it. I think many of the servers are not responsive to DDP customers because they know they'll get 18%. I witnessed this first-hand last year -- only a couple of times -- but it was there.

Correct. Any dining plan already purchased through this year will be as sold, with tip included. This is a "future yell", specifically for next calendar year and beyond.

Thanks to suzannnews and lewis for backing me up here. I am cautiously vague to protect anonymity but don't have the time nor desire to just make this stuff up. Will update as more info comes in. Thanks again for all responses.

Just to clear up one issue, I believe tax would still be included. At issue in this post is tip only.

 

[Lewisc]

Correct. Any dining plan already purchased through this year will be as sold, with tip included. This is a "future yell", specifically for next calendar year and beyond.

Thanks to suzannnews and lewis for backing me up here. I am cautiously vague to protect anonymity but don't have the time nor desire to just make this stuff up. Will update as more info comes in. Thanks again for all responses.

Just to clear up one issue, I believe tax would still be included. At issue in this post is tip only.

It's logical that server compensation for DDP guests would be subject to negotiations. It's logical that a compromise position might be to negotiate a flat dollar gratuity, similar to what's done at the non-Disney participating restaurants. I suspect the completely optional tip offer might make the alternative offer more palatable.

I'm not really backing you up. I don't have any "inside information". The details for the 2008 dining plan will be released in a few months. It's logical for Disney to consider ways to profitably run the plan. I don't think the result of any internet poll will mean anything to Disney.

Do we even know if Disney is paying tax on the dining plan? Could there be a loophole that lets Disney base the tax on zero?

edited to say my post sounds too harsh. I believe what the OP has posted, but only because it's logical and confirmed by another poster that's always been credible. I don't have any confirmation, other then from the two posters in this thread.

 

[DisneyJimbo]

the no hassle of everything being included for the bill. There is no way I would go to a table service meal each day without the plan having tip included each day. The attractiveness of this deal is the tip being included for me. It's the first thing that attracted me to the plan. We go for the expensive items and tip not being included would be cost prohibitive for us. We would never order an appetizer and dessert with our table service if it wasn't included in the plan; so, us paying tips even moreso on those extra items would just irritate me. There are times I would be even satisfied with tap water to save the beverage cost.

The dining plan is good as is. I can understand the price going up every year, but to start excluding anything from the plan would turn me off. Leave what works alone!

I couldn't have said it better myself!!!!!!

 

[Pumbaa_]

If the DDP changed to not be all inclusive, the servers are the ones who would bear the brunt of the cut. Let's face it, people order expensive items on the DDP, many of whom would never order the same way if paying for each meal (at time of meal).

I doubt if many people would be as generous as an 18% tip if they do tip. If tips decline, then service will decline. If DDP becomes known as the dining plan where servers get stiffed, then the service will decline also.

I would rather the price go up then to remove a critical element of the DDP. It should be all inclusive or retired, IMHO

 

[sorul82?]

The DDP was the main reason we stayed on-site for our last trip. One (among the many) of the reasons we are considering purchasing DVC is so that we can buy the DDP without needing 1-day tickets (AP holders). We do have the DDE, but I don't find that we save much, at least compared to the current DDP. Now don't get me wrong, our sole enjoyment of Disney doesn't revolve around the DDP. We would still "do" Disney, but do it differently. As other posters have stated, off-site would be the better way to go for our family of 5.

As for free dining, how would that work? (Assuming that free dining is offered next year.) Would free dining be free free, or just free? In other words, would free dining be totally free, or would you just get the DDP for free, but you still have to tip the servers?

 

[rascalmom]

We have always enjoyed the table service restaurants - at least once a day on our trips. Our last trip was our first one on the dining plan - it was really too much food, but we enjoyed the incredible convenience. We are planning on getting the plan again in July.

I see it as wash for the servers - they may be less than satified with the 18%tip on the plan, but off the plan we order less food (VERY rarely would the four of us get 4 appetizers, 4 entrees and 4 desserts except on the plan). We always supplement the tip if the service is outstanding.

The plan's main appeal for us was that it stopped quibbling over sharing. My teen dd's don't eat that much & often share, but on the plan they have the luxury of making their own selections without guilt over the bill. My 15 yo loved the decadence of her very own dessert! (they didn't get that "I payed for that - why aren't you eating" look from dad )

If it ceases to be all-inclusive, we will use the DDE card and our DVC/AP discounts as we have in the past.

 

[bicker]

This of course is a "future yell" right? They can't just go ahead and change policies for those of us that have already booked?!?

They're pulling together the Dining Plan for 2008 right now... it'll be offered to the public in June, if it is on schedule. So that's likely why they need to work this issue out now. It almost surely won't have any effect until January check-ins.